Clutch.



C. KACHEL.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z5. 1913.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

m u i INVENTOR CHARLES HACHEL KwSSES 6 7 ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPN COQWASHINGTON. n. c.

CHARLES KACHEL, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

cnorcn'. v

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1a, 1915.

' Application filed August 25, 1913. Serial No. 786,406.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KAoHnL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing atUtica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

hIy invention relates to an improved clutch, and I declare that the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof, suflicient to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the, accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

The device is particularly applicable to a power press or other like machine where it is necessary that the press shall operate at certain times as determined by the operator and the parts be thrown out of operative connection by means of a treadle or other like device, at intervals, for the insertion of the metal'or other Work which is to be cut or shaped. Such presses are usually constructed with various devices for throwing the clutch out of engagement at each complete revolutionof the shaft, as when the shaft is in such position that the die which it operates is raised up. In most of the prior constructions there is but one member which engages the clutch block and does that only at one point on the clutch block. In such a construction it is possible that the press or machine will not stop after making one revolution, depending entirely on the operator to take his foot off the treadle; if he should forget, he may receive serious injury.

In the preferred form of my improved automatic clutch the disengagement of the clutch from the pulley is effected by the engagement of two lugs on a yoke with two cam-blocks placed on opposite sides of the clutch block which applies pressure on op p'osite sides of the clutch block and thus reduces friction. These cam blocks or heads are not in the same plane transverse the axis of the clutch-block but are ofl'set, or in different planes, one being engaged by one lug of the throwout and the other head by the other lug. The offset of the heads and the lugs is such that each head clears the other chine as desired.

In the usual construction of presses, also, should the operator fail toremove his foot from the treadle the press will continue to work and an accident may result. In my construction the press must come to a stop at the proper time whether the foot be removed from the treadle or not, or whether the treadle be pressed at all or not. It is necessary to press the treadle to make the machine work, but it will stop if the treadle be held down. My construction is thus an automatic clutch for at some point in its revolution the clutch will be thrown out, in any event.

The preferable form of the device comprises a plurality of cam-blocks on the clutch-block, each traveling in its own and separate course, and a throwout having a lug in the path of each cam-block, the disengagement of each lug from each block being effected by shifting the throwout by the operator by which alone it is possible to set the die mechanisms in motion. Having a plurality of cam blocks and lugs in their path is preferable as such arrangement distributes the strain more evenly and reduces friction, but I do not limit my invention to such plurality of interengaging members as it is obvious that one clutch block and one lug in its path will produce the desired result and be suflicient in many classes of machinery.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of parts of such a press showing the ele ments of this invention; Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts in difierent position, the clutch being shown as in engagement, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the clutch in different position.

Referring to the figures in detail, 1 represents the frame of the machine on which is mounted a bracket 2 which has a groove cut in its face on a circle the radius of which is the distance from the groove to the center of the power shaft 3.

4 represents a power pulley or other suitable device secured to the power shaft 3 and having suitable power for revolving the shaft.

5 is a clutch block on the power shaft and carried thereon by a spline, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that it may be moved longitudi nally on the shaft.

7 indicates one of a number of springs, one end of which bears against the press or frame 1 and the other end against the clutch block which by force of the springs is normally held in contact with the power pulley 4. The adjacent'faces of the power pulley and the clutch block are suitably formed for interengagement, as seen in Fig. 3. A throwout arm is shown at 10 which has a urved proje tion 11 which sets into the cutout in the bracket, which has been already referred to, so that the throwout arm is kept in proper relation to the clutch block. This throwout arm has a handle, indicated at 13, by which it is manipulated to swing the arm to and fro,

15 is a spring, one end connected to the arm and the other end to some fixed part of the machine whereby the arm is normally kept in the position indicated in Fig. 2. roper mechanism, such as the strap 16 passing over pulley 17 to a treadle (not shown) is operative to swing the arm into the position shown in Fig. 4:. The other end of the arm is forked, as seen in Figs. 2 and i, and the ends are offset, as indicated in Fig. 1. Each arm terminates in a lug 20 which is upset toward the clutch block. .On the clutch block and placed at opposite sides are cam heads 22 and 23. While these heads are on opposite sides of the .clutch block they are not exactly opposite, but are offset as indicated in Figs. 1 and .3, each to travel in its own path .or circle as the clutch-block revolves and eachlying in proper relation to the corresponding lug, so that each camblock engages withits corresponding lug as the clutcheblock revolves. These cam-blocks are beveled, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 having a beveled face a, and the point 6, is so placed that the beveled face of the cam-block may come into engagement with the corresponding lug as the shaft revolves. The length of the cam-blocks is such that when they come into engagement with the lugs of the throwout the retard caused by the friction of the machine or of a brake (not shown) is enough to overcome the momentum of the shaft and .die with their connected parts, so that the cam-block does not slip by the lugs of the th owou by rea on of the mom n of the moving parts.

In the operation of the machine the power pulley 1 revolves as in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig, 1, and when the at such point in the revolution of the shaft that the die will be brought to a stop at some point betweenthe beginning and the end of its descending stroke, so that if desired the operator may disengage the clutch at such time and stop the press. Whenever the camblocks have come into engagement with the throwout lugs the throwout is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, the lugs thus passing over the cam-blocks and allowing reengagement'of the clutch-block. Should it be desired to stop the press before the moment when its cam-block normally comes into contact with the lugs, the throwout may be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4 When the work is properly replaced the throwout is let back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and when the cam-blocks again engage the lugs they are thrown into the position shown in Fig. 4.

Having described my invention, what I .claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with power means, of a clutch-block adapted to engage therewith and slidably mounted on a shaft, a shaft carrying the power means and the clutchblock, a plurality of cam-blocks mounted on the clutch-block on opposite sides thereof and in different planes transverse the axis :of the clutch-block, a throwout having lugs lying at all times in the path traveled by the cam-blocks when the clutch-block is engaged, the said cam-blocks having beveled faces adapted when coming into contact with the lugs ,ofthe throwout to shift the clutch-block away from the power means, and means adapted to rotate said throwout whereby its lugs are moved past and disengaged from their respectively engaged cam blocks.

2. In a device of the character described,

a shaft, a clutch-block slidably .mounted the engagement of the cam blocks with the said lugs shifts the clutch block on its shaft and means adapted to move said throwout so that said lugs will rotate in the paths of said cams past said cams.

3. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a clutch-block slidably mounted thereon, cam-blocks on the clutch-block and disposed in different planes transverse the axis of the block, a throwout having lugs adapted to engage each its own cam-block, said lugs lying at all times in the paths traveled by said cam-blocks when the clutchblock is engaged, the said throwout being pivotally mounted whereby the lugs may be swung to clear the ends of the camdolocks 4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a slidable clutchblock, of cam-blocks mounted thereon positioned to travel in different paths in the revolution of the clutch-block, a throwout having lugs adapted to engage the camblocks in the revolution of the clutch-block and shift the same by the bearing of the cam faces of the blocks upon said lugs, said lugs at all times lying in the paths traveled by the cam-blocks when the clutch-block is engaged, and means adapted to rotate said throwout whereby its lugs are moved past and disengaged from their respective engaged cam blocks.

5. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a clutch-block slidably mounted on a shaft, of cam-blocks mounted on opposite sides of the clutch-block and positioned to travel in different circles in the revolution of the clutch-block, and a throwout having lugs, one each lying at all times in the path traveled by its respective cam-block when the clutch-block is engaged whereby to shift the clutch-block and means whereby to shift the throwout to disengage the lugs from engagement with the cam-blocks.

6. The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane, a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member into engagement therewith and away from and out of engagement with said driving clutoh,yielding means tensioned to move said shiftable clutch-member toward said driving member, a cam facing toward said driving member, a lug movably mounted in the path of said cam and adapted on engagement therewith to shift said driven clutch-member out of engagement with the other clutch member, and means adapted to rotate said lug past said cam whereby said driven member may again move toward the driving member.

7. The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane, a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member into enmeans adapted to rotate said lug in the path of said cam whereby said driven member may be disengaged at varying positions.

8. The combination 111 a clutch of a drlving clutchmember rotating in a fixed plane,

a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member intoengagement therewith and away from and out of engagement with said driving clutch, yielding means tensioned to move said shiftable clutch-member toward said driving member, a cam facing toward said driving member, a lug movably mounted in the path of said cam and adapted on engagement therewith to shift said driven clutch-member out of engagement with the other clutch-member, means adapted to rotate said lug past said cam whereby said driven member may again move toward the driving member and means adapted to rotate said lug in the path of said cam whereby said driven member may be disengaged at varying positions.

9; The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane, a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member into engagement therewith and away from and out of engagement with said driving clutch, yielding means tensioned to move said shiftable clutch-member toward said driving member, a cam facing toward said driving member, a lug movably mounted in the path of said cam and adapted on engagement therewith to shift said driven clutch-member out of engagement with the other clutch-mernber, and means adapted to successively rotate said lug in the path of said cam whereby said driven member may be disengaged at varying positions by said first movement and by further rotation past said cam said driven member may again be released and able to move toward said driving clutchmember.

10. The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane, a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member into engagement therewith and away from and out of engagement with said driving clutch, yielding means tensioned to move said shiftable clutch member toward said drivingmember, cams on opposite sides of the driven clutchmember positioned to travel in different paths, a throwout having oppositely disposed lugs lying at all times in the paths traveled by the respective cams when their clutch member is engaged and adapted to withdraw said shiftable clutch member from said driving member and means adapted to rotate said throwout whereby its lugs are moved past and disengaged from their respectively engaged cams.

11. The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane, 'a'rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch member into engagement therewith and away from andout of engagement with said driving clutch, yielding means tensioned to move saidshiftable clutch-member toward said driving member, cams on opposite sides of the driven clutchmember positioned to travel in difierent paths and a throwout having oppositely disposed lugs lying in the paths of the respective cams and adapted to withdraw said 7 'shiftable clutch-member from said driving cams on opposite sides of the driven clutchmember positioned to travel in different paths and a throwout having oppositely disposedlugs lying in the paths of the respective cams and adapted to withdraw said shiftable clutch-member from said driving member, said throwout being mounted to swing said lugs intthe paths of said cams whereby said shiftable clutch-member may be disengaged at varying positions. 7

13. The combination in a clutch of a driving clutch-member rotating in a fixed plane,

a rotatable clutch-member shiftable axially toward said driving clutch-member into en- I gagemen-t therewith and away from and out of engagement with said driving clutch, yielding means tensioned to move said shiftable clutch-member toward said drivingmember, cams on oppositesides of the driven clutch-member positioned to travel in difi'erents paths and a throwout having oppositely disposed lugs lying in the paths of the respective cams and adapted to withdraw said shiftable clutch-member from said driving membensaid throwout being HENRY M .LOVE, V ELEANOR T DE =GIOBGI.

Copies Of this may be Obtain d for five cent ea h t u mm n r Eaten-ts.

Washington, p. 05. 

